A video of Anthony Joshua running through the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, and being cheered by people on the street who recognize him, was posted today on social media.
Lagos Run
The ultra-wealthy former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) appeared to be without security protecting him and seemingly unafraid of being jumped. For someone that famous running the streets, it’s risky.
Joshua, 35, is coming off a brutal fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois on September 21st last year. Promoter Eddie Hearn has been all over the place, talking about various possible opponents for AJ’s next fight.
The prize is Tyson Fury that Hearn is eager for him to fight in ‘The Battle of Britain’, but ‘The Gypsy King’ hasn’t said a word about coming out of retirement to accommodate Joshua. It’s stuck in Hearn’s craw that Fury won’t budge from his gilded age mansion to fight Joshua in a clash that would make gazillions for both.
Options mentioned for AJ
– Deontay Wilder
– Joseph Parker
– Daniel Dubois
– Agit Kabayel
– Martin Bakole
Joshua wants to avenge his loss to Dubois. If that fight happens next, it will attract a lot of interest from fans. For AJ, he might as well get it over with because it’s not going to get any easier for him if he waits two or three years before facing Dubois again. He’ll be too old by then to have any chance of winning the rematch.
The other options on Hearn’s shortlist of opponents for AJ aren’t so appealing. Deontay, 39, is taking a tune-up against some unknown fighter, Tyrell Herndon, on June 27th, and he might lose.
Even if he wins, the popularity that he once had will not have returned to make a fight between him and Joshua worthwhile this year. Wilder needs to beat a top-10-level fighter to make a fight between him and Joshua worthwhile.
Last Updated on 04/06/2025
